Save the dates for upcoming FireFree Recycling Events!
Last year’s fire season is fresh in many Central Oregon resident’s minds. Fire season is just around the corner and now is the time for Central Oregonians to prepare their home for fire season. It may not feel like it outside but fire season is on its way. There are some simple steps you can take to prepare your home and community for the upcoming fire season. This spring, partners in the Central Oregon area will host FireFree days. Crook, Deschutes, Klamath, and Jefferson Counties will all be hosting FireFree events for local residents to easily prepare for wildfire season. Check the dates below for a FireFree event near you!
Fire science tells us that if you have created and maintained a defensible/survivable space around your home, it has an 80% chance of surviving a wildfire without fire department assistance. Those are great odds and FireFree urges residents to take that bet and get prepared for the upcoming wildfire season. Now is the time to clean up your yards and create defensible spaces around homes and recycle that debris at FireFree collection sites FOR FREE in Crook, Deschutes, Klamath, and Jefferson Counties. Please note currently the Westside Site is pending confirmation from its new landowner, FireFree will announce the confirmed dates as soon as possible. This will be the last year the current Westside Collection Site on Simpson Ave in Bend will be available to residents. Take advantage of the Westside Site during the 2018 FireFree event to make the tenth and final year the best one yet!
Saturday & Sunday, April 28 & 29 and May 5 & 6 at Box Canyon Transfer Site in Madras.
Saturday, April 28 at Crook County Landfill in Prineville.
Saturday, May 5 THROUGH Sunday, May 13 at Knott Landfill in Bend.
Early May 2018 at the Westside Collection Site in Bend.
2018 will be the last opportunity to use this site for FireFree, please check back at firefree.org for specific dates
Friday & Saturday, May 18 & 19 at Deschutes County Transfer Sites:
Negus Transfer Station in Redmond
Northwest Transfer Station in Cloverdale (Sisters)
Southwest Transfer Station in La Pine
Friday & Saturday, June 1 & 2 at Crescent Transfer Station and Chemult Landfill.
FireFree reminds you to take a look around your property in the “home ignition zone” where glowing embers can ignite spot fires and vulnerable areas like decks, patios and fences that can spread flames to your home. And take advantage of upcoming FireFree Recycling Events to dispose of the debris for FREE.
Where are your most vulnerable places for glowing embers to ignite your home?
- Are your gutters and roof valleys free from debris like pine needles and leaves? Clean them out. Despite a metal or asphalt shingle roof, the buildup of gutter debris provides necessary fuel for the glowing embers to ignite adjacent fascia boards or siding – most often made of wood.
- Do your shrubs and weeds provide a path of fuel for fire to reach your trees or home? Reduce shrubs and other “ladder fuels” around your home to reduce the threat of ground fires igniting nearby trees, or your home.
- What can catch fire on your deck or patio or near your fence? Remove weeds, shrubs or any combustible materials from around, under or on top of your deck, patio or wood fence. This includes toys, planters, construction materials, patio furniture and cushions along with even small piles of pine needles or leaves.
- Do you have bark mulch, pine needles, ornamental junipers or flammable vegetation within 5 feet of your home? This can provide the perfect ember bed that will provides necessary fuel for the glowing embers to ignite the adjacent siding – most often made of wood.
- Is your woodpile near your home or other combustible vegetation? Move woodpiles at least 30 feet away from your home or other combustibles.
Visit the FireFree website at www.firefree.org for more information about how you can prepare your property for wildfire season.
CONTACT: Alison Green
541-322-7129
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